Reversing switch assembly



' y 20, 1969 Q A. F. CARDENAS 3,445,609

REVERS ING SWITCH AS SEMBLY Filed Oct. 11, 1965 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR 14/ex Flardenas May 20, 1969 A. F. CARDENAS BEVERSING SWITCH ASSEMBLY Sheet Filed Oct. 11, 1965 United States Patent 3,445,609 REVERSING SWITCH ASSEMBLY Alex F. Cardenas, 1002 Harlem Ave., River Forest, Ill. 60305 Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,694 Int. Cl. H01h 35/38, 33/68 U.S. Cl. 200-1 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reversing switch of the type having an insulated housing and contact plates in the housing, wherein terminal posts including contact plates thereon are selectively vertically movable between sets of horizontally disposed opposed fixed contact plates, and piston and control means for causing selected movement of the terminal posts, as to cause electric current flowing therethrough to flow in a predetermined direction when the movable contacts are placed in conductive relation to one set of fixed contacts and to cause the current to flow in a reverse direction when the movable contacts are placed in conductive relation to the opposed set of fixed contacts.

The invention relates to improvements in polarity reversing switches and more particularly deals with the novel construction and assembly of such a switch.

Polarity reversing switches have great utility in association with electroplating equipment requiring periodic reversal of the polarity of the current. Such reversal of current flow is necessary to periodically stop the plating process and through reverse current flow, deplate so as to remove unsound, hard and inferior metal deposited during the plating process and prevent marginal build-up. Periodic reversing of polarity makes the entire plating process less critical in operation, yields a smoother surface, cuts polishing time, and eliminates the tendency for the deposit to treeing. Further, in prior known reversing switch structures, it is necessary to cut off the current supply each time the switch is reversed, to prevent arcing. This unnecessary shut-off of current supply increases the time required for each reversing cycle, and is made unnecessary by the present structure, whereby reversing of the polarity is accomplished without separate stoppage of the current flow.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novelly constructed reversing switch.

Another object is to provide a reversing switch assembly which is entirely automatic in its operation.

It is the further object of its invention to provide a reversing switch of the character referred to which is ruggedly and relatively inexpensively constructed, positive in operation, and very inexpensive but very efficient in use.

A-n exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the reversing switch and associated control mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the reversing switch;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view of the reversing switch, on a reduced scale, and taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the current flow when the reversing switch is in plating and deplating positions.

Referring to the disclosure of an exemplary structure of the reversing switch assembly shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, said switch is enclosed in a substantially rectangular housing 11 "ice mounting on its top surface a pair of cylinder assemblies 12 and 13, which are vertically arranged and of the pneumatic piston type. These assemblies are operable connected to the reversing mechanism that is enclosed in housing 11 and which will be described in detail hereinafter. As is well understood, pistons 14 and 15 in said pistoncylinder assemblies are adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly in unison in response to the admittance of pressurized air to each end of the cylinders. For this purpose, the upper ends of said cylinders have a conduit 16 in flow communication therewith, and a conduit 17 in How communication with their lower ends.

These conduits 16 and 17 are connected ,as shown, to a conventional type of reverse flow manifold valve 18 having a solenoid 19 at each end thereof, each operable when individually energized to shift the enclosed valve element from one position to the other for admitting air into either conduit 16 or 17. A line 21 connects valve 18 to a source of pressurized air and this line preferably includes a filter 22, a flow regulator 23 and a lubricator 24, the latter affording means to convey a lubricant to pistons 14, 15, along with a supply of air to the cylinders. The usual exhaust ports of the manifold valve preferably have dust excluders 25 fitted thereover.

Operation of the manifold valve is controlled by a conventional timer 26 which includes dual controls 27 so as to enable the timer to be set to actuate the manifold valve at predetermined intervals. One example of timing is to have the manifold valve remain in a position holding the reversing switch in plating position for fifteen seconds and to then have the manifold valve reverse the switch to deplating position for three seconds. It is understood that these time intervals are suggestive only and that they may be varied depending upon the nature of the operating, i.e., whether plating, cleaning, descaling, etc., as well as the nature of the material being plated and the plating material.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 2 and -3, the housing 11 is of sheet metal construction and it includes in its floor a tank 28 through which there is a steady flow of cooling fluid delivered thereto through a line 29, and withdrawn through line 31. Mounted on the floor of the housing is a layer 32 of electric insulation material. Similar layers of such material are provided, one beneath the top wall, as at 33, and one substantially midway between them, as at 34.

Four electric conductor posts 35, 36, 37, and 38 are spaced around and arranged vertically within the housing, and held spaced away from the housing walls by insulation layers 32, 33, and 34, as shown. These posts extend to the outside of the housing and constitute connectors for the various lines leading from the line current and to the electroplating equipment, all as is well understood in this art. Specifically, the post 35 may be connected to the plus line, whereas post 37 may be connected to the return line. The post 35 carries, within the housing and between spaced insulation layers 32, 34, two vertically spaced apart contact plates 39 and 40. The post 37 likewise mounts two vertically spaced apart contact plates 41 and 42.

The post 36, as shown in FIGURE 3, mounts integrally with upper and lower contact plates 43 and 44, which are offset longitudinally of the housing, so as to lie in different vertical planes. Post 38 also have two vertically spaced apart contact plates 45 and 46, which are also olfset longitudinally of the housing, as shown. Specifically, the plates 39, 41, 43, 45, are disposed in a common horizontal plane, whereas plates 40, 42, 44 and 46, are in a second common horizontal plane spaced below the plane of plates 38, 41, 43 and 45.

The piston 14 includes a piston rod 47 that extends into the housing and mounts on its end a contact plate 48. The

piston 15 includes a piston rod 49 that also extends into the housing and mounts on its end a contact plate 51. Upon referring to FIGURE 2, it will be observed that the plate 48 is shown in electrical contact with contact plates 39 and 45, whereas plate 51 is shown in electrical contact with contact plates 41 and 43. When in this position (see FIGURE 4), electric current, in this example positive, from contact post 35 is conducted through plates 39, 45 and 48 to the post 38. The return current path is from post 36 through plates 41 and 43 to post 37. This can be termed the circuitry for the plating cycle.

When the timer calls for a reversal of the switch, .the pistons 14 and 15 are thrust downwardly (see FIGURE carrying the contact plates 48 and 51 into contact respectively with contact plates 40, 44 and 42, 46. This reverses the current flow through the switch so that positive current is now delivered to post 36 and the return flow is through post 38.

The action of the pistons is substantially instantaneous,

- hence the tendency to are is reduced to a minimum, if

not totally eliminated. However, such arcing, should it occur, is quenched by maintaining a supply of oil 52 which the housing at a level to maintain all of the contact plates submerged at all times.

Although pneumatic drive means for the switch has been illustrated and described, it should be understood that solenoids may replace the air cylinders, without impairing or altering the operation of the reversing switch assembly.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that changes and modifications in the various details disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the 'whole or any part thereof, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reversing switch comprising, in combination, a housing, four electric conductors arranged in said housing and insulated one from the other and from the housing, a pair of spaced contact terminals integral with a first of said conductors arranged one above the other, a pair of spaced contact terminals integral with a second of said conductors arranged one above the other and oil?- set out of vertical alignment, a pair of spaced contact terminals integral with a third of said conductors -arranged one in vertical alignment with one of said offset contact terminals and the other in vertical alignment with the other of said offset contact terminals, a pair of contact terminals integral with a fourth of said conductors arranged one above the other, a first movable electric contact member arranged between and adapted to have selective contact with either of the contact terminals on the first conductor and either one of one set of vertically aligned contact terminals on the second and third conductor, a second movable electric contact member arranged between and adapted to have selective contact with either one of the contact terminals on the fourth conductor and either one of the other set of vertically aligned contacts on the second and third conductors, means to quench arcing, and means to cool said housing.

2. A reversing switch comprising, in combination, a housing, four electric conducting posts arranged in said housing and insulated from one another, a pair of spaced contact terminals on a first of said posts arranged one above the other, a pair of spaced contact terminals on a second of said posts arranged one above the other and offset out of vertical alignment, a pair of spaced contact terminals on a third of said posts arranged one in vertical alignment with one of said offset contact terminals and the other in vertical alignment with the other of said offset terminals, a pair of contact terminals on a fourth of said posts arranged one above the other, a first movable electric contact member arranged between the one or the other contact terminal on the first post and one or the other of one set of vertically aligned contact terminals on the second and third posts and adapted to have selective contact with either terminal on said first, second and third posts, and a second movable electric contact member arranged between and adapted to have selective contact with one or the other contact terminals on the fourth post and one or the other of the other set of vertically aligned contacts on the second and third posts.

3. The reversing switch recited in claim 2, in which means is provided to move said movable electric contacts in unison.

4. The reversing switch recited in claim 2, in which all of the contact terminals are immersed in a body of oil. 5. The reversing switch recited in claim 2, in which the reversing switch is water cooled.

, 6. A reversing switch comprising, a housing, a plurality of fixedly mounted spaced apart electric contact terminals in said housing, a plurality of movable electric contact terminals in said housing arranged between said fixed terminals, plunger elements in said housing operably connected to said movable terminals, power operated means operable to move said plunger elements in unison into electrical contact of said movable terminals with selected groups of said fixed electric contact terminals so as to cause electric current flowing t-herethrough to flow in a predetermined direction, said means being operable to move said movable terminals into electrical contactwith a different selected group of fixed terminals as to cause electric current flowing thereth-rough to flow in a reverse direction.

7. The reversing switch recited in claim 6, in which the fixedly mounted contacts are electrically connected in pairs.

.8. The reversing switch recited in claim 6, in which the fixedly mounted contacts are electrically connected in pairs and the movable contact elements are arranged to engage one or the other contact of each of said pairs of such contacts.

9. A reversing switch assembly comprising in combination, a reversing switch in an insulated housing having a pair of movable contact elements arranged between and movable in unison toward and away from sets of opposed fixed contact elements reversible power means operably connected to each movable element, selector means operable to actuate said power means, and timer means to control operation of the selector means, so as to cause electric contact for a predetermined timed interval between the movable contacts and one set of fixed contacts thereby allowing electric current to flow in one direction and to move the movable contacts away from the first set of fixed contacts into electric contact with the opposed set of fixed contacts thereby allowing electric current to flow in a reverse direction.

10. The reversing switch assembly recited in claim 9, in which the reversible power means comprises pistoncylinder assemblies.

11. The reversing switch assembly recited in claim 10, in which the selector means comprises a reciprocable manifold valve structure.

12. The reversing switch asembly recited in claim 9, in which solenoids are provided to actuate the selector means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,336 7/ 1902 Ihlder. 1,702,396 2/1929 Andres. 3,346,710 10/1967 Weston et al. 200- ROBERT S. MACON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. 'X.R. 

